Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Pittsylvania County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- Land Entry Book1737–1770
- Old Surveys1746–1863
- Deed Book1767–1901
- Index to Deeds1767–1889
- Deeds1780–1820
- Processioners' Returns1812–1834
- Lands Condemned for Railroads1852–1858
- Release Deeds1884–1897
- Index to Deeds, Trust Deeds and Liens1890–1934
- Index to Deed Book1891–1897
- Plat Book1973
Wills
- FOR WILLS1767–1820
- General Index to Wills1767–1948
- Wills, Inventories1809–1906
- Will Book1814–1947
- General Index to Wills, Testators, Devisees and Legatees1949–1965
- Memorandum of Facts for Decedents or Wards1971–1973
Estates and guardianships
- Accounts Current1770–1901
- Record of Qualifications of Fiduciaries1850–1939
- Fiduciary Bond Book1860–1914
- Laid in Index Book1877–1891
- Fiduciary Book1900–1949
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1767–1862
- Ministers' Returns1770–1860
- Ministers' Bonds1785–1852
- Register of Marriage Licenses1850–1861
- Register of Births1853–1896
- Register of Deaths1853–1896
- Index to Marriage Register1861–1900
- Marriage Licenses1861–1912
- Marriage Register1861–1925
Tax lists
- Taxable Property and Census Lists1767–1786
- Lists of Insolvents1782–1785
Court orders and minutes
- Judgments1700–1810
- Court Records1767–1904
- Index to Court Orders1767–1904
- Minute Book1767–1813
- Rule Book1795–1797
- Common Law Order Book1809–1909
- Chancery Order Book1831–1908
- Laid in Index Book1849–1908
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1861–1918
- Induction1946–1950
Census
- Taxable Property1767–1786
Bonds and oaths
- Officials’ Bonds Book1849–1860
County government and the poor
- Record of the Local Board of Review of Assessments1915–1930
Roads
- Appointments of Road Surveyors1820–1851
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Pittsylvania County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Pittsylvania County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Pittsylvania" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Halifax County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Halifax County
Later formed partly from Pittsylvania County: Henry County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1766, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.